US4564003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar/gas heater
Assignee: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GAS COMPANY
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Filing: 1981-03-26
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Granted: 1986-01-14
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Expires: 2001-03-26
Abstract
Abstract An instantaneous gas domestic hot water system incorporating a solar heating panel (80) connected to a hot water storage cylinder (81), the outlet from the hot water storage cylinder passing through a heating tube assembly (15) adapted to be heated by a gas burner (13). The outlet from the heating tube assembly is connected to a flow switch (4) and a temperature sensing device (14), the flow switch being connected through an electrical control system (10) to operate a control gas valve (11) and a main gas control (5) to control the flow of gas to a pilot burner (6) which is ignited on sensing of the flow of hot water (3) with the temperature sensing unit (14) controlling the control valve (11) to regulate the flow of gas to the main burner (13) to maintain the water at the water at the water at the outlet (83) at a desired temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Iwanicki
- 👤 Brian Duane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:23
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24D; F24D17/00; F24D17/0036; F24D17/0063; F24D17/0068; F24D19/00; F24D19/10; F24D19/1006; F24D19/1051; F24D19/1057; F24H; F24H15/00; F24H15/20; F24H15/212; F24H15/219; F24H15/30; F24H15/305; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02B10/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
349 words
A domestic hot water system comprising in combination an instantaneous gas water heater, a solar water heater, and a hot water storage reservoir, said solar water heater being connected to the hot water storage reservoir to heat the water therein, said instantaneous gas hot water heater comprising a heating tube assembly connected to said hot water storage reservoir to receive water therefrom, a gas burner for supplying heat to said heating tube assembly, and an outlet from said heating tube assembly for delivering heater water to a consumer, said gas burner including a pilot burner and ignition means for said pilot burner, and control means to control the instantaneous gas hot water heater, said control means including a flow switch sensing water flow in said outlet, a temperature sensing device sensing the temperature of water flowing in said outlet, a main gas valve and a gas control valve, said flow switch controlling said main gas valve, said temperature sensing device being connected to said gas control valve to control the gas flow, said temperature sensing device being connected to a motor control unit controlling an electric motor operating the gas control valve, the motor control unit delivering electrical pulses to drive the electric motor with a pulsing movement to actuate the gas control valve, said pulses actuating said gas control valve in a stepwise movement, the motor control unit having a dead zone between upper and lower limits, said upper and lower limits being determined by the upper and lower limits of the temperature of water flowing in said outlet, whereby when said temperature sensed by said temperature sensing device is below the lower limit of said dead zone said motor is pulsed to supply gas to said pilot burner and the ignition means ignites said pilot burner which ignites said burner which burns at full capacity, and when said temperature reaches said dead zone said motor is no longer pulsed, and when said temperature exceeds the upper limit of said dead zone, the motor is pulsed to terminate said gas flow to said burner and said pilot burner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
349 words
A domestic hot water system comprising in combination an instantaneous gas water heater, a solar water heater, and a hot water storage reservoir, said solar water heater being connected to the hot water storage reservoir to heat the water therein, said instantaneous gas hot water heater comprising a heating tube assembly connected to said hot water storage reservoir to receive water therefrom, a gas burner for supplying heat to said heating tube assembly, and an outlet from said heating tube assembly for delivering heater water to a consumer, said gas burner including a pilot burner and ignition means for said pilot burner, and control means to control the instantaneous gas hot water heater, said control means including a flow switch sensing water flow in said outlet, a temperature sensing device sensing the temperature of water flowing in said outlet, a main gas valve and a gas control valve, said flow switch controlling said main gas valve, said temperature sensing device being connected to said gas control valve to control the gas flow, said temperature sensing device being connected to a motor control unit controlling an electric motor operating the gas control valve, the motor control unit delivering electrical pulses to drive the electric motor with a pulsing movement to actuate the gas control valve, said pulses actuating said gas control valve in a stepwise movement, the motor control unit having a dead zone between upper and lower limits, said upper and lower limits being determined by the upper and lower limits of the temperature of water flowing in said outlet, whereby when said temperature sensed by said temperature sensing device is below the lower limit of said dead zone said motor is pulsed to supply gas to said pilot burner and the ignition means ignites said pilot burner which ignites said burner which burns at full capacity, and when said temperature reaches said dead zone said motor is no longer pulsed, and when said temperature exceeds the upper limit of said dead zone, the motor is pulsed to terminate said gas flow to said burner and said pilot burner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A domestic hot water system as defined in claim 1 characterised in that said burner includes a pilot burner supplied with gas, a sensing device to sense the presence of said pilot burner to control said gas control valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A domestic hot water system as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow sensing device comprises a plug valve moveable by the flow of water, said plug valve being connected to a magnet to operate a reed switch on movement of said magnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A domestic hot water system as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the cold water is supplied to an inlet to the storage reservoir at the bottom thereof, and to the bottom of the solar water heater, a further cold water inlet being connected via a dilution control valve to the water storage reservoir adjacent the hot water outlet thereof, whereby the water flowing in the outlet may be reduced in temperature by operation of the dilution control valve when the temperature of the water in the reservoir exceeds the controlled temperature of the water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-13 | 1989-07-15 | 1990-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-13 | 1993-07-15 | 1994-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-13 | 1997-07-15 | 1998-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |